quelea

[ kwee-lee-uh ]

noun

1. any of several African weaverbirds of the genus Quelea, especially Q. quelea red-billed quelea, noted for its vast flocks that destroy grain crops.

Word History and Origins

Origin of quelea¹

1925–30; < New Latin: genus name (1850; earlier as a species name), perhaps alteration of Medieval Latin qualea quail